How it all started...
On March 30, 1914, Father Charles Miller reported to Bishop Camillus Maes of Covington that there were only three Catholics in Pikeville. By 1926, only two Catholics were found in the area. In the 1930s, Pikeville became a station attended by the priest stationed at Saint George Mission Center in Jenkins. The scattered Catholic families in the eastern part of Pike County in the Pond Creek area were to attended Mass at Sacred Heart Parish in Williamson, West Virginia. During the episcopate of Bishop Howard, priests of the Kentucky Mountain Apostolate visited the Pond Creek area, offering Mass in the homes of local Catholics. As early as 1935, a local non-Catholic named John Yost began correspondence with Father Wiliam Gockel of Jenkins and later with Father Albert McCracken of Jenkins and Bishop Francis Howard of Covington about available property in Pikeville suitable for a church. By 1938, Mass was said regularly once a month at Pikeville in private homes and later in the Call Funeral Home in Pikeville.
In December 1945, Bishop William Mulloy of Covington began the process of acquiring the Hames property with Yost's legal assistance. By Christmas 1946, the congregation had grown to 36 Catholics. At the invitation of Bishop Mulloy, the Third Order Regular of Saint Francis from Loretto, Pennsylvania (TOR), first visited Jenkins and Pikeville in October 1947 and Father William Schreder, TOR, was appointed pastor of Saint George Church in Jenkins the following year. On November 28, 1948, Father Schreder broke ground on a church for the 40 Catholics in Pikeville. A house located behind the church property was purchased from Mr. Hames as a priest's residence soon after the church groundbreaking. On October 7, 1949, the new church was dedicated under the patronage of Saint Francis of Assisi by Bishop Mulloy and Father Schreder, TOR, was appointed as the first resident pastor.
In December 1945, Bishop William Mulloy of Covington began the process of acquiring the Hames property with Yost's legal assistance. By Christmas 1946, the congregation had grown to 36 Catholics. At the invitation of Bishop Mulloy, the Third Order Regular of Saint Francis from Loretto, Pennsylvania (TOR), first visited Jenkins and Pikeville in October 1947 and Father William Schreder, TOR, was appointed pastor of Saint George Church in Jenkins the following year. On November 28, 1948, Father Schreder broke ground on a church for the 40 Catholics in Pikeville. A house located behind the church property was purchased from Mr. Hames as a priest's residence soon after the church groundbreaking. On October 7, 1949, the new church was dedicated under the patronage of Saint Francis of Assisi by Bishop Mulloy and Father Schreder, TOR, was appointed as the first resident pastor.
Expanding the vision...
In the fall of 1953, Saint Francis of Assisi School was opened by two Sisters of Divine Providence in the basement of the church for students in grades 1-8. In 1956, Father Gabriel Stephens, TOR, was appointed pastor and was succeeded by Father Nicholas Wilger, TOR (1961-1966), Father Raphael Landser, TOR (1966-1967), Father Roger Chunta, TOR (1967-1971) and Father Cletus Adams, TOR (19 71-1972). Father Chunta returned to serve as the last Franciscan pastor in 1972. The Franciscan Fathers from Pennsylvania served the parish until February 4, 1974, when the care of the parish was returned to Diocese of Covington and Father Jerome Stern was appointed pastor.
In 1983, Father Terrence Hoppenjans was appointed pastor and was responsible for the establishment of Saint Joseph the Worker Mission in Elkhorn City in 1985 and Jesus of the Mountains Mission in Phelps in 1988. During his pastorate, the interior of the church was renovated in the 1980s. The Diocese of Lexington was established in 1988 by Pope John Paul II. The diocese was formed from parts of the Archdiocese of Louisville and the Diocese of Covington, including Pike County. In the summer of 1993, a vestibule addition to the church and classroom addition to the school were completed. In 1994, a renovation of the exterior of the church also took place. In 1995, the old two-story convent and rectory on Jefferson Street was sold by the parish. In 1997, Father Stephen Gallenstein was appointed pastor. During his pastorate, Saint Francis of Assisi School was renovated in the summer of 2000. Father Benny Valayath, H.G.N. served as pastor from 2002 until 2005. Father Wilfred Fraenzle served as pastor from 2005 until 2010. Father Daniel Fister served as pastor of Saint Francis of Assisi Church in Pikeville, Saint Joseph the Worker Mission in Elkhorn City and Jesus of the Mountains Mission in Phelps from July 1, 2010 until June 30, 2013.
Father Richard Watson was appointed the pastor of Saint Francis of Assisi Church, St. Joseph the Worker Mission, and Jesus of the Mountains Mission on July 1, 2013. Father Watson was formally installed as pastor by Bishop Ronald Gainer on August 25, 2013. In August 2013, Bishop Gainer canonically suppressed Jesus of the Mountains Mission in Phelps. On June 8th, 2014, the Solemnity of Pentecost, St. Francis Parish celebrated an outdoor Mass and groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the new church. Father Richard Watson, pastor, celebrated the Mass, with Father Robert Nieberding, the diocesan administrator, concelebrating and blessing the site. On May 23, 2015, Bishop John Stowe celebrated and Father Richard Watson, pastor, concelebrated the Mass of Dedication for the new St. Francis Church. On November 28, 2015 Bishop Stowe canonically suppressed St. Joseph the Worker Mission in Elkhorn City. Bishop John Stowe designated St. Francis of Assisi Church a pilgrimage site for the Jubilee Year of Mercy and the Holy Doors were blessed and opened on December 13, 2015 by Father Richard Watson, pastor. On July 9, 2016 St. Francis of Assisi Church hosted a Diocesan Day of Pilgrimage for the Jubilee Year of Mercy. Pilgrims from around the Diocese passed through the Holy Doors and celebrated Mass with Bishop John Stowe. On May 1, 2017, while remaining pastor of Saint Francis, Father Richard Watson was also appointed pastor of St. George in Jenkins, Kentucky. On July 1, 2017, Father Robert Adams was appointed associate pastor of St. Francis and St. George.
In 1983, Father Terrence Hoppenjans was appointed pastor and was responsible for the establishment of Saint Joseph the Worker Mission in Elkhorn City in 1985 and Jesus of the Mountains Mission in Phelps in 1988. During his pastorate, the interior of the church was renovated in the 1980s. The Diocese of Lexington was established in 1988 by Pope John Paul II. The diocese was formed from parts of the Archdiocese of Louisville and the Diocese of Covington, including Pike County. In the summer of 1993, a vestibule addition to the church and classroom addition to the school were completed. In 1994, a renovation of the exterior of the church also took place. In 1995, the old two-story convent and rectory on Jefferson Street was sold by the parish. In 1997, Father Stephen Gallenstein was appointed pastor. During his pastorate, Saint Francis of Assisi School was renovated in the summer of 2000. Father Benny Valayath, H.G.N. served as pastor from 2002 until 2005. Father Wilfred Fraenzle served as pastor from 2005 until 2010. Father Daniel Fister served as pastor of Saint Francis of Assisi Church in Pikeville, Saint Joseph the Worker Mission in Elkhorn City and Jesus of the Mountains Mission in Phelps from July 1, 2010 until June 30, 2013.
Father Richard Watson was appointed the pastor of Saint Francis of Assisi Church, St. Joseph the Worker Mission, and Jesus of the Mountains Mission on July 1, 2013. Father Watson was formally installed as pastor by Bishop Ronald Gainer on August 25, 2013. In August 2013, Bishop Gainer canonically suppressed Jesus of the Mountains Mission in Phelps. On June 8th, 2014, the Solemnity of Pentecost, St. Francis Parish celebrated an outdoor Mass and groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the new church. Father Richard Watson, pastor, celebrated the Mass, with Father Robert Nieberding, the diocesan administrator, concelebrating and blessing the site. On May 23, 2015, Bishop John Stowe celebrated and Father Richard Watson, pastor, concelebrated the Mass of Dedication for the new St. Francis Church. On November 28, 2015 Bishop Stowe canonically suppressed St. Joseph the Worker Mission in Elkhorn City. Bishop John Stowe designated St. Francis of Assisi Church a pilgrimage site for the Jubilee Year of Mercy and the Holy Doors were blessed and opened on December 13, 2015 by Father Richard Watson, pastor. On July 9, 2016 St. Francis of Assisi Church hosted a Diocesan Day of Pilgrimage for the Jubilee Year of Mercy. Pilgrims from around the Diocese passed through the Holy Doors and celebrated Mass with Bishop John Stowe. On May 1, 2017, while remaining pastor of Saint Francis, Father Richard Watson was also appointed pastor of St. George in Jenkins, Kentucky. On July 1, 2017, Father Robert Adams was appointed associate pastor of St. Francis and St. George.
Where we are headed...
Fr Richard Watson left St Francis in July of 2019, and Fr Rob Adams became the pastor of St Francis on July 1, 2020. St Francis of Assisi School closed on July 1, 2020. However, we know that when God closes one door, He always opens another. We hope that our online ministry will be an important part of our outreach to the people of Eastern Kentucky.
